Sexual Health Education and Class in America?

Question

I mean education.

Is there evidence that kids in America that are in low income areas have less or no sexual health education in school than other kids?

And is there maybe a racial part to it too?

Are abstinance only classes more likely to be in schools that are low income and minority?

It looks to me like that if you are white and not poor in America than you get the information how to take care of yourself not just having sex but being healthy in general.

But if you are not than you don't get that information you need from school you get preaching about your morals.

Is this fair for me to say?

why Isn't it he school's responsibility to teach sex education?

Hey it's about health it's education. What do you think schools are for??

Do you want kids to have to go on the net to look for information? Or have myths and ignorance from their parents who Also don't have the education?

Or maybe I'm just all wrong about America and need to get right with God?

Hey idk .. I never got the sermon..I mean abstinence only class! .. and somehow I didn't become sexually active ..

Answer 1

It's been my experience (I went to wealthy school district, but had many encounters with schools in non-wealthy districts as well) that the wealthier districts, in Texas at least, have more of everything, not just sex education, than the non-wealthy ones.

My school district was funded mostly by the refineries in the cities backyard that supplied 80% of the property tax, and the property tax is what mostly funded the school district.

Answer 2

I think there is more to this than just having the education system teach sex education. I bet if you did a survey of parents broken down on the basis of socioeconomic factors, you would find that those with a higher income are more likely to provide sexual education to their children. I was the upper middle class kid at the poorer school so I kind of know what you are talking about from experience. The school was crappy in general, but it seems like those whom came from wealthier families were better education on the practice.

The problem in reality is not whether schools should be doing this, but whether parents should be held responsible. Personally, I wonder if a tax on parents of underage parents would help lessen the number of teenagers giving birth. The best way to solve the problem is not through a government education mandate, but a strictly enforced tax scheme that requires parents to pay a tax for every child their dependents have.

Answer 3

Sex and Health Education is proper, for a long time we have listened to the Fundamental Religious Right , That are trying to impose their beliefs on us, abstinence dose not work. The number of babies born to teen-aged girls in America proves that. If you had sex you will know that it is a most pleasant experience ,and you want more of it. We need to teach "how to have safe sex "in the schools.

That is what our children need to know.

Answer 4

My daughter is editor of her schools newspaper. She wrote a story about this subject and of course it did not get put into their schools paper. She gave too much info and backed it up with facts so they wouldn't let her. BUT Her school is mostly upper middle class, and mostly white. They teach ONLY abstinance classes. BUT when my daughter did her story and studied the info it seems that schools that teach ONLY abstinance have a higher pregnancy rate of girls 17 or younger than some other schools that teach SAFE SEX or no sexual education classes at all. In her school alone this year to date there are 11 preg. girls. Last year 17 girls.
I don't think it really matters which schools are teaching only abstinances classes because they don't seem to work anyway. It's kinda like telling a kid they can never have a coke. If they want it they will have it even if you don't know about it.
I think it's time for all parents and schools to start teaching kids how to protect themselves. I do believe it is right to say, I don't want you doing this BUT if you decide to you need to know how to protect yourself.
My daughter went through the abstinance class, she signed the promise card and I can proudly say that she is still a virgin at almost 17. BUT I did tell her if she did decide to do it to protect herself by either coming to me or a friend of mine that is very close to our family, if she is uncomfortable talking to me about it.
So I hope this helps to know the preaching goes on no matter what kind of school your going to or what color you are, even though it doesn't seen to change the fact that these abstinance classes all the schools are so hooked on theses days are NOT working at all. As with our school is seems to be a direct order to go do what they are telling them not to do.
My daughter wrote in her paper that the so called grown-ups need to start acting like grown-ups and look at the facts. If teens want to have sex they are going to. They don't need to be treated like babies and told "No" they need to be treated as young adults and taught to make good decisions in ALL the choices that they make.
And just so you know, our family is middle income. And My son, at 16 became a dad. He also went through the schools so called "Class".

Answer 5

Education of a sexual nature is clearly the responsibility of parents...its is virtually impossible to enter into the conversation without morality becoming at least part of it - and therefore, it is the responsibility of parents.

HOWEVER, we know that parents in large numbers today are absentee...they don't know who they're kids are, who they are hanging with and what they are doing. With that said, SOMEONE has to pick up the slack, and that falls to the schools.

I am a huge believer in schools picking up this ball and responsibility, and doing whats right for the kids. And for those religious right folks who want abstinence only messages - would they like to be held responsible when kids die from AIDS because they were not taught lessons about condoms?

Answer 6

It is an interesting question. It will probably require a lot of research and lots of primary sources as it is often very hard to find such studies.

Try looking in some education journals. They would be the most likely source of that information.

Answer 7

Are you asking the question then posing your response to your assumption?

So no, this isn't fair to say until you get some facts and how did you jump from teaching to preaching?.

Answer 8

I am not American so I can't say. However, I would like to add that there is this great hypocrisy in the anti-choice movement. If you're white and middle-class, have lots and lots of babies! If you're not, then fvck you. But you're still not allowed to have reproductive rights. Just don't have sex. Sex is for the white middle classes only.

Exhibit A: http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=Zjk4ZjA2NDIxNmEzNGM4YTZmNTBjODY3NmI5OGQ3NjU=

So I would not be surprised if abstinence was shoved down the throats of people of colour or the poor.

Answer 9

And what makes you think it's the school's responsibility to teach sex education? That falls under parenting responsibility.

Anyone has access to libraries to get the books they need to research the subject. And much information can be found on the internet these days.

Answer 10

It's the parents' responsibility to teach children about sex. And even that can be narrowed down to an hour-long discussion.

All a person needs to know is that Tab A plus Slot B equals Baby.

Contrary to what people think, abstinence -only education does work. If you go around encouraging use of contraceptives, you're sending the message out that you *expect* them to have sex. That's pretty much a no-brainer.